Passengers flock to PITX after long New Year holiday weekend; 170K commuters expected

With the holidays over, many bus passengers flocked to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) early Tuesday in time for the first working day of the year.

The terminal is expecting a large volume of passengers throughout the day, which may reach 170,000, PITX Corporate Affairs and Government Relations Head Jason Salvador said in an interview on GMA Integrated News' Unang Balita.

"Back to reality na tayo kaya naman malaki ang inaasahan nating bilang ng mga pasaherong ngayon. Kung kahapon nakapagtala tayo ng 161,000 passengers, ngayon siguro ang tinitingnan natin between 160,000 to 170,000 passengers naman," Salvador said.

(We're back to reality so we are expecting a large volume of passengers today. If we had 161,000 passengers yesterday, today we may have between 160,000 to 170,000 passengers.)

Salvador said many of the passengers spent the Christmas and New Year holidays out of town and were returning to work in Metro Manila on Tuesday. Others meanwhile were going back to their provinces after spending the holidays in the National Capital Region.

"Sapat naman [ang bilang ng mga bus natin]. Inoobserbahan natin kung magkakaroon tayo ng mga issues o challenges [dahil sa hindi na libre ang pagsakay sa EDSA carousel bus]," Salvador said.

(We have enough buses available. We are observing if there will be issues or challenges [since the free rides on the EDSA carousel bus ended already.])

"So far wala naman [na reklamo]. Talagang malaki lang ang bilang ng mga pasahero. Pero agad naman nating kino-coordinate sa mga bus partners natin upang makapag-deploy agad ng additional units," he added.

(So far there are no complaints. It's just that there is a big volume of passengers. But we are immediately coordinating with our bus partners so they can deploy additional units right away.)

Salvador advised bus passengers to expect wait time and a long queue throughout the day as more commuters are expected to go through PITX.

"Mag-expect tayo ng konting paghihintay, konting pagpipila dahil sadyang napakarami po ng tao. Pero huwag kayong mag-alala, 'pag nandito na kayo ay sisiguraduhin nating makakasakay po kayo," he said.

(Please expect a little waiting time and a long queue because there is really a large volume of passengers. But don't worry. If you are here, we will make sure you will be able to board [a bus].)

PITX reminded passengers not to bring prohibited items and to do advanced booking as much as possible.

"Huwag magbibitbit ng matatalas na bagay, mga mabilis lumiyab para hindi na tayo magka-issue 'pag tayo ay nasa gitna ng biyahe. Hanggat maaari, mag-advance booking tayo, bumili tayo ng tiket nang maaga para umiwas tayo sa paghihintay at pagpipila," Salvador said.

(Don't bring sharp objects and flammable items so we won't have an issue when traveling. As much as possible, do advance booking, buy your ticket early to avoid having to wait and fall in line.)

PITX recorded around 200,000 passengers on December 26 as commuters returned from their Christmas holidays, according to a separate report on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

 —KG, GMA Integrated News